Stumped on what to get your wine geek this holiday?  Unsure how to shock and awe a wine-centric holiday party?  Wayward Wine has the answer.

Fly their wine glasses to Italy’s southernmost corner: Vittoria (represented by the massive, pink, plastic, lawn flamingo…of course).

The town of Vittoria is one of Sicily’s youngest.  Founded in 1607.  But this trading post has been gang-rushed by Sicans, Sikels, Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Goths, Visigoths, Vandals, Arabs, Normans, French Angevins, Spaniards, Chiaramontes, Sicilians, Savoys, Austrians, and most recently, Italians.  Even the Americans conquered it, replete with a resplendent donkey-carted-procession:

Those vain-glorious Americans!

But through these countless colonizers, wine has made Vittoria tick.

Here, Cerasuolo di Vittoria (or “cherry-like [wine] of Vittoria”) became Sicily’s first and still only DOCG in 2007.  It requires roughly equal parts of dark, spicy Nero d’Avola and frivolous, fruity Frappato.  The results are balanced, bright, and berried with some quality wines for cellaring.

And then there is COS.

Founded in 1908 by Titta Cilia, Giusto Occhipinti and Rino Strano (hence the “C.O.S.”), these three amigos slowly grew their winery and vine-holdings.  Rino left.  His sister Pinuccia joined then left.  So Titta and Giusto went ahead.  They introduced biodynamic farming (basically astrology, organics, and homeopathy for vineyards).  They stopped using lab-selected yeasts for fermentation.

But in 2000, massive 400 and 250 liter terracotta pithoi arrived at the winery from Spain.

*Man in jug not included

Out went wanna-be French barrels of oak and tannin. In came a nostalgia for ancient wine-making.

Small production in Pompeii.

From ancient factories to private villas, grapes were fermented then aged in pithoi for millennia.  The vessels were chemically neutral.  They stayed in the ground, which kept fermentation from getting hotter than 86 fahrenheit.  This kept off flavors down.  However, the method fell from favor, surviving today only in small villages in Georgia.  French oak, cement, and modern, temperature-controlled, stainless tanks of the international wine-making took over.  Wine became an international commodity and not a local affair.

So COS brought the pithos back.

Awesome.

Tonight, we try Azienda Agricola COS, Pithos, Nero d’Avola Frappato, Sicilia IGT, Italy 2010

Christmas balls probably confuse it.

APPEARANCE

It looks clear and moderately garnet: a sign of age or air exposure.  The rim fades to clear.  Thin tears denote a lighter alcohol.

AROMAS

COS Pithos smells confident and complex, with dried rose petals, pomegranate, citrus, and a green-like verbena.

PALATE

No sugar is present.  Acids are noticeable and there’s a definite hint of volatile acidity (oxygen exposure allows acetobacter to convert alcohol into acid): possably due to COS’s natural methods (i.e. hand massaging grapes):

Maybe too many photo-ops in 2010???

However, this funky acid isn’t overkill. It adds structure, and mouthwatering, moreish interest.  The tannins feel dusty, ashen, and food-hungry.  The alcohol is a mere 12%: insanely low for such a hot climate.  All this means that the body feels medium in weight, bright yet gentle.

FLAVORS

Pronounced flavors of tart pomegranate, with bitter seeds, fruity flesh, and tart pith all pounce:

Then dried rose petals and earth layer on top.  Finally wild, long, pure musk and ash finish the show with a medium plus length.

COS Pithos 2010 is just shy of outstanding: very good (4 of 5).  Both it’s background, rarity, method, and complexity make it a perfect holiday gift for that special geek in your life ($25 to $35).

Not that I’m asking…*hint *hint *nudge *nudge

Related articles

• 2010 Azienda Agricola Cos Cerasuolo di Vittoria Pithos, Sicily, Italy (vinsiders.net)
• Nero d’Avola (vinotekablog.wordpress.com)
• Nicosia Nero d’Avola 2010 (thebuddhainyourglass.com)
• Brash Higgins Nero D’Avola 2012 (wino-sapien.blogspot.com)
• Villa Pozzi 2012 Nero d’Avola (sipandturn.com)